Minister of Fire2.

NULL

Today, I used the sooteater for a second consecutive year. This year I went from the bottom up. Seemed to go better taking the rods off this year. Last year, that seemed like
a pain in the butt. Got about a quart of dry powder from 23 feet of chimney with a couple pairs of 45s. That's the first cleaning since last summer with 24/7 burning last season. I can live with that.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

Why are you guys waiting until fall to clean your pipes? I usually clean at the end of the season, not the beginning, figuring I don't want that corrosive chit sitting in the tube thru the summer humidity.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

Why are you guys waiting until fall to clean your pipes? I usually clean at the end of the season, not the beginning, figuring I don't want that corrosive chit sitting in the tube thru the summer humidity.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

I have an oval pipe. Just guessing, when trimming the line to fit my flue, I would cut to the longest length across the oval? The directions say to cut 1/4" more the length of the diagonal of a square or rectangle, or the diameter of flue. It says on the box it does oval, but leaves it out of the instructions.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

That's what I would do. The lines are pretty flexible, so I don't see a problem with the longer length causing problems with the shorter sides. I think the line will just rub with its side against the pipe rather than the tip. Then again, the head of the device moves around a bit as it wobbles and rotates inside the pipe, so the tips will probably still hit the near sides from time to time.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

The good: It cleaned the flue really well (bottom up method into a T)
The bad: What a mess! next time I will be more careful to seal the opening!
The ugly: I toasted my nearly brand new 14V cordless drill! The gears sound like there are marbles in them. Next time I use a real drill.

Overall it did what I wanted, no more ladders and climbing on the roof.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

The ugly: I toasted my nearly brand new 14V cordless drill! The gears sound like there are marbles in them. Next time I use a real drill.

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Wow, sorry to hear about the drill. I once thought I ruined my Bosch drill because it sounded exactly the same. Then I found that the speed switch wasn't all the way to one side which caused it to sound like that. Something to check just in case.

PE Super 27

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
― Max Planck

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

I imagine in a liner it would probably sound a little dicey. Nothing disconcerting sounding in my 21 ft ICC run though. I've only been concerned about getting caught up in the cap somehow. This has never happened and it beats any crud out of there nicely. I wanted to make sure I used a clutched drill this year though. I spun & broke a pole off last year. They did cover under warranty though. It was my fault. A nice gesture from Gardus though,

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

I fried my 8 yr old corded drill that already had like an 1/8 to 1/4 play in the shaft.

High Valley Model 2500
Vogelzang Highlander (at the farm house)

Sooteater chimney cleaning system with 18ft of flexi rods

Forester: Clemson Graduate with a BS in Forestry in 04 and MFR in 06

1980 Chevy K10
1990 Ranger 2wd
Stihl MS390 (new aftermarket muffler with modd July 2013)
Husqvarna 445 (free, with a busted wrap handle)
One busted 6lb maul, one 8lb with head about to come off (All fiberglass mauls are now busted)
Hand me down wood maul (handle with some wear on it!! July 2013)
16x12 woodshed, i built!

1980 Chevy K10
1990 Ranger 2wd
Stihl MS390 (new aftermarket muffler with modd July 2013)
Husqvarna 445 (free, with a busted wrap handle)
One busted 6lb maul, one 8lb with head about to come off (All fiberglass mauls are now busted)
Hand me down wood maul (handle with some wear on it!! July 2013)
16x12 woodshed, i built!

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

Describe, please. I imagine going up a ladder to drop the rope down the pipe, and then drawing the brush down from below? Might not be so bad on my lower chimney, but still frightening for mid-season on the big chimney.

Hearth.com LLC Mid-Atlantic Division2.

NULL

Staff Member

Yeah I set up both pipes to do it that way. I go up and open the megabucks caps and drop both ropes and push the brushes into the pipes. Close the caps and go down and pull the brushes through. No it isn't a squeaky clean cleaning but squat is left and it ain't gonna play in a chimney fire.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

If my roof wasn't 12/12 and I liked heights more I would clean from top. My new raised metal seam is even slipperier than old metal roof so even further from it happening. I am thankful the SootEater works so well for my setup.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

If my roof wasn't 12/12 and I liked heights more I would clean from top. My new raised metal seam is even slipperier than old metal roof so even further from it happening. I am thankful the SootEater works so well for my setup.

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I don't know how U could even stay on a 12/12 roof for more than 5 secs without sliding off .
Maybe gulf shoes (no I wouldn't),or harness n rope